Moonfog is
currently splitting their releases between the forward-thinking black
metal of SATYRICON, THORNS, and DODHEIMSGARD,
and the regressive glories of KHOLD . . . and genre MVPs Darkthrone. Once
thought extinct in the interim between TOTAL DEATH and RAVISHING GRIMNESS,
the Norsemen return a year after Ravishing with PLAGUEWIELDER. While it
will probably not change the minds of those whose interest in Darkthrone
has waned since the underrated TOTAL DEATH, it is another excellent release
for those of us who don't necessarily want another UNDER A FUNERAL MOON,
but just want another DARKTHRONE
album.

Once again,
the line-up consists of Nocturno Culto (vocals/guitar) and Fenriz (drums).
RAVISHING GRIMNESS saw them performing in a more mid-paced HELLHAMMER
range, with Fenriz enjoying his increased regression as a drummer. PLAGUEWIELDER
finds him more animated, injecting several fast tempos in most songs as
well as a lot of double bass. It's probably his most efficient performance
since Panzerfaust. Nocturno continues with the riff sensibilities of Ravishing,
but with a lot more double-picking (and a rather
crazy riff in the chorus of "Command"). In other words it's DARKTHRONE
within the parameters they established long ago, which were unique in
their emergence in 1991, and in an increasingly electronic age of black
metal, still are.

Fenriz's
lyrics have changed, more self-reflexive than the evil poetry for which
he's reknowned. From "Sin Origin":
"I am of pride and contempt /
A crossfire volunteer /
Laughing while my world gets trampled /
Life is just a shadow of death."

RAVISHING
GRIMNESS's theory that "Resistance is futile" gets reworked in "Command"
to "Existence is futile." He remains an interesting lyric writer, and
musician as well on the very old school "Sin Origin," his sole contribution
to the songwriting.

PLAGUEWIELDER
offers six songs for 43 minutes, longer entries which trade between all-out
thrash-tempos and unassuming mid-pacing. "Command" is one of the longest
at eight minutes, and one of the best, with guest vocals by CADAVER INC.'s
Apollyon, and Sverre Daehli (who played guitar on
the AURA NOIR song "Released Damnation"). Finale "Wreak" opens
with a faint resemblance to MAYHEM's "Pagan Fears," though ultimately
unfolding in an entirely different way. As with RAVISHING GRIMNESS, the
old school stylings of the album owe some influence (but
mostly just inspiration) to HELLHAMMER, and while there is no shortage
of bands who can lay claim to that, Darkthrone arrives at a solid conclusion
that leaves you saying not "That was some great Hellhammer worship" but
"That was definitely Darkthrone."

No gothic
accessibility, no trends, no clinical production, and no equal.